Happy Thursday, Notables. While we await the impending “heavy rains,” we’ve compiled your Weekender with many a thing about town. Why? Because rain or shine, you’re a happening YP, non? (If you actually did answer “non” you might want to click on to one of our features akin to YP 101 on the right-hand sidebar.) So, without delay, plan your weekend, today…
Thursday
College Street standby The Emmet Ray has recently launched a more serious dinner menu. The ‘Mess Hall’ at The Emmet Ray now includes crispy sriracha tea leaf eggs, short rib tostados, citrus miso mackerel, and whiskey toffee pudding, to name just a few. Check it out for a chilled out bite after work.
The Avro’s got a new sister: The owners recently opened up Handlebar in Kensington Market. With a bit of vintage charm, gold bikes adorning the joint, an eye-catching mural, and some great beers on tap, Handlebar will soon have a handle on the neighbourhood. Be one of the first to check out this new spot.
Friday
Looking to head out of town? Wakestock, the world’s largest Wakeboard, Action Sports, and Music Festival is on this weekend (Friday through Sunday). Here’s the catch: It’s in Collingwood, and totally worth the trek. From extreme wakeboarding to bands like A Tribe Called Red to the high energy skatepark, this is one fest you won’t want to miss.
This year’s Booty Bash takes over the Storys Building tonight for an evening of rump-shaking and hip gyrating. This fundraiser, in support of The Don McQuaig Foundation (for colon cancer), is a bootylicious event if there ever was one where you’ll drink and dance the night away to derriere-moving beats, with some amazing prizes and an evening full of surprises.
One of our favourite spots, The Hoxton, is celebrating its one year anniversary Friday night. (My they grow up so fast, don’t they?) Featuring Brit DJ/Producer Fake Blood and TEED (aka Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs), The Hoxton’s 1-year will be better than any toddlers first bday, guaranteed.
For a li’l randomosity on Friday night, Tattoo Rock Parlour’s hosting a Beer Pong Tournie. Yes, a Beer Pong Tournie. DJ Couture will spin while drunkard beer pong the night away. Why not, right? There will be prizes, ladies, teams, blah, blah…but this is just one of those raised-eyebrow nights that you might not want to miss.
Saturday
Looking for that perfect brunch? DT Bistro has been a Toronto mainstay for over a decade, thanks to its totally tasty treats. Dessert Trends (that’s what the DT stands for) has been serving up some amazing food in decor splendor, and the brunch is definitely noteworthy. Try the calamari, green apple and seaweed salad, or the bacon almond French toast, or even the traditional Croque Madame. You can’t go wrong, they’re all delish.
The Wild Blueberry Festival is going down at Brick Works on Saturday. With blueberry season in full swing, this is the time head out and check in with local farmers, pick up baskets of the little blue wonders, indulge in some fine blueberry baked goods, and have a morning in the greenest venue in town.
Head on over to GreekTown Friday through Sunday for the Taste of the Danforth. This favourite food fest amongst pro-noshers and the culturally savvy alike is back for another year of roaring Mediterranean et. al. flavours. The 19th year for TOTD features dozens of restaurants, vendors, entertainers, and the like giving attendees exactly what its moniker says.
Sunday
The Brewer’s Backyard – a beer series that takes over Evergreen Brick Works – is back Sunday with a special edition Beer Jam. It’s a celebration of fruit beers: from raspberry ales to blueberry wheat varieties and all in between. Babi & Co. will be on hand to serve up some delish Indonesian street food and Fidel Gastro will be slappin’ up his sammies.
For those inclined to the rawer styles of music, HeavyTO snarls into Downsview Park Saturday and Sunday for two days of unbridled heavy metal, industrial, and hardcore music. Featuring acts like Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, System of a Down, and Kataklysm, HeavyTO is for the tried and true metal-head. Hopefully it doesn’t rain the whole time…that’d put a rusty hue on the whole fest.